PUBLISHED Sept. 7, 2008 ---

Eleven months ago, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation into law that expanded the valley’s air-quality board from 11 to 15 members.

These new members were not to be political cronies or retired legislators looking for plum review-board assignments, but people with either specific expertise in relevant fields or a vested interest in the health of their community’s lungs.

We’re still waiting. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, charged with making our air more breathable, still isn’t fully staffed as the law’s one-year anniversary approaches. Not even close.

Two of the new positions are supposed to belong to representatives of valley cities, additions that would bring the total city representation to five members. But those positions still haven’t been filled, and with the May 2008 resignation of Raji Brar, who stepped down from the Arvin City Council and consequently also the air board, there are now three such vacancies. The term of a fourth city representative, from Fresno, expires in February.

Schwarzenegger was also supposed to have appointed a doctor and a scientist to the valley air board. He finally got around to appointing Dr. John Telles, a Fresno cardiologist, in April — six months after signing the legislation that called upon him to do so.

But the governor has yet to appoint a scientist, even though qualified valley residents have expressed an interest in the non-salaried appointment.

When might we expect some attention to the people’s business in this area, governor? Not soon, by the sound of things.

“We are currently working to fill the position with the best and most qualified representative to serve the people of California,” spokeswoman Rachel Cameron said last week.

The delay concerns the Fresno-based Central Valley Air Quality Coalition, as it should.

“We have not heard anything,” said CVAQ coordinator Liza Bolaños. “We do know there are a couple of scientists who have applied who are qualified. But we haven’t heard any solid answers.

“Every month the air district takes up very technical matters, and not having someone there with that expertise is not helping.”

The absence of three city representatives is just as troubling. Earlier this year, the California League of Cities, faced with legal threats over the alleged politicization of the appointment process, stepped away from the seat-designation role it has played since the air board’s inception in 1992.

In response, state Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, stepped in with SB 1548, which would create a city selection committee made up of local city council members to appoint representatives to the air board.

Florez’s bill “is a good idea,” said air board spokeswoman Brenda Turner. “It at least offers a solution. It’s difficult for us not having a full board.”

The board can’t get things done without a quorum of eight members, and it’ll be down to 10 members by early next year unless vacancies are filled quickly.

Schwarzenegger must appoint a scientist to the board with all due haste and sign Florez’s bill, which is now on his desk — along with dozens of others delayed by the budget impasse.

“Florez’s bill makes sure representatives are chosen with public input, through public participation, and without any smoke-filled rooms,” Bolaños said. “The problem is huge, and we’re not going to be able to fix it without regional input.”

Indeed we will not.